SCAD in general

Colleges and Universities A-Z Savannah College of Art and Design
221

<p>I heard somewhere that the 88% number includes people with graduate degrees -- I don't know this for a fact though. During the freshman parent orientation we were just at, someone from the career counseling office did a presentation, and it sounded like they have a lot of resources and are proactively working with students to find internships, build resumes, refine interviewing skills, etc. during their first three years, then have a lot of job opportunities they can steer students towards on graduation. Many companies do come and do job recruiting on campus.</p>

<p>As for web design, can't speak to that directly, but the computer labs we toured last year were very up-to-date and well-supplied.</p>

222

<p>I really want to go to SCAD for architecture, I think it's my number one. I just really loved Savannah, plus I think this is a school I might actually really enjoy/fit in better. I am very artistic (and athletic), so I think I would love it! I sent in my application...two weeks ago...I think. Hopefully I will hear back sometime in October. </p>

<p>I went for a summer visit in July and I just like how personal the architecture department was, along with other things about the school and Savannah in general. Keep your fingers crossed that I get in!!</p>

223

<p>I am a freshman at SCAD Savannah, and I absolutely love it! I have no doubt that I will be successful after graduation...I know that I'm in good hands! Don't believe the stories that you read on here, just go visit and see for yourself!</p>

224

<p>SCAD was my daughter's second choice. She was accepted at SCAD, Wash U, Carnegie Mellon, Syracuse, UGA, MICA, Brown, and RISD. Even though she ended up doing the Brown/RISD Dual Degree program, she felt she would have been very content at SCAD. The curriculum is expansive, the facilities are top-rate, and the professors are engaging. We were very impressed with both campuses .. Atlanta and Savannah. SCAD is working incredibly hard to provide an outstanding art education. Their star is rising.</p>

225

<p>Did you visit MICA or Carnegie Mellon? If so how did you feel they compared to SCAD?</p>

226

<p>As a former employee, I would have to caution any of you claiming SCAD as your "dream school" to really do your research before you attend. And by do your research, I don't mean read SCAD's website. As previously posted, SCAD will legally seek to remove anything that could portray them as negative. It is all about appearances. From the education all the way down to the construction (or lack thereof) of buildings. It doesn't matter what is right, or legal, as long as it looks good from the outside. You have to dig deep, but you will find the answers you need. I would advise you to read '<a href="http://stupidsavannah.vox.com/"&gt;http://stupidsavannah.vox.com/&lt;/a&gt;' and '<a href="http://linguafranca.mirror.theinfo.org/9607/Savannah2.html"&gt;http://linguafranca.mirror.theinfo.org/9607/Savannah2.html&lt;/a&gt;' </p>

<p>I am an optimistic person, one who began my employment doe-eyed and ready for the challenges that awaited me. There is no freedom at SCAD. No choice, no freedom of speech, no freedom of thought. Savannah in-and-of-itself seems to act as its own entity, its own country. Then there is the Republic of SCAD. It is a monarchy and an evil one at that. Many employees, current and former, will describe it in a very mafia-like way, or something straight out of The Firm. Its sad. The potential for greatness is mind boggling. What is forced upon you as "normal and acceptable" school, work circumstances or behavior would be a lawsuit to anyone else in the real world. Be very careful. SCAD changes you. It changes your thoughts, perception, mind and being. And hopefully you make it out with your life (no exaggeration, again, read the above websites), your dignity, your ethics and your soul. Consider yourself very fortunate if you leave with all of those entact.</p>

227

<p>Can you be more specific about all of this? What exactly happened to make you so bitter?</p>

228

<p>If I were to give specifics, it would end up being a book. I'm actually not bitter - I am free, so there is nothing to be bitter about! I am more upset that I didn't research the school in general more before I said yes. I am more upset that I sacrificed my morals and ethics to lie for them, cover more issues up than I would like to admit, things that would lose the little accreditation they have and more upset that I wasted years of my life there being miserable, at the expense of my life and family! I am free now and in a job I love. I am respected as a person and as a hard worker, I am treated fairly and I work in a place that cares about others, not just making a few bucks. </p>

<p>It makes me sad to see good people (students, faculty and staff) get sucked into that world and change. I saw alot in my time there - illegal spying, altering of formal documents, students/employees being set up, etc. </p>

<p>I just know that I would not recommend this place to any friends or family and knowing what I and others have experienced, would not want my children to waste their money to go here. If I can save just one person from going through hell, I will. </p>

<p>Just read Lingua</a> Franca - Sinister Designs. (several pages, keep clicking 'next' at the bottom). It is not fiction, although it reads like fiction. I know many of the people in this article and I have spoken with them on countless occasions. </p>

<p>I'm simply warning future students and employees - know what you are getting into. If you're ok with it - great - some people are and that is their choice. The school just seems to prey upon unwitting souls and I, personally, don't think that is right.</p>

229

<p>I'm a high school senior, and SCAD has been my no doubt first choice, but upon taking about an hour or so to read many of the posts here my confidence that SCAD is perfect for me is really diminishing.</p>

<p>I'm going to be as open as possible here because I would very much appreciate some true honest advice, feel free to email me too:
my SAT score is 1800ish. my GPA is something between B and B-. I have a pretty decent portfolio and a certificate in art school prep from RISD. One of the things that initially enthralled me is the equestrian program, as I am an avid horseback rider and such an incredible program combined with what seems/seemed like an incredible art program is my absolute dream school.
so you can understand why I so unnerved about what I've read so far.</p>

<p>Here are my questions, not sure how active this forum is but I would love for someone knowledgeable to answer:
1) is it true "everyone" gets it (could I get in based on the above?) and is the freshman foundation workload so heavy that students drop out because of it?
2) it seems like some students are unhappy because of they feel they are being "illegitimatized" by students who should not be in art school/bad professors/dumbed down classes. any insider insight?
3) I am pretty optimistic, I believe I can take a lot from an experience because I do try to make the best of it and I am halfway intelligent enough that I can figure things out for myself. So for people with bad experiences: will this even help me, or do you think it's so bad at this point that it won't matter?
4) scholarships? financial aid? anything?</p>

<p>I'm really disheartened by what I've read; I really liked SCAD when I visited. basically any input (any equestrian info?) would be great...especially the weather, I love the cold.</p>

<p>thanks!</p>

230

<p>I can't answer all your questions, but I can tell you that when my D applied 2 years ago, with a B+ average, low 1700 SATs, good portfolio, excellent recs, and also did the RISD pre-college program, they offered her a combined honors scholarship of $15,000/year. A friend of hers whose stats I don't know, but can tell you she had to go to summer school after 10th grade for 2 subjects, was offered a $12,000/year scholarship. Granted she may have improved dramatically after 10th grade, and I can vouch for the fact that she is a delightful kid who happened to have a bum year.</p>

<p>Both my D and her friend also applied to MICA which is supposedly one of the harder schools to get into. Both were accepted, and my D was offered a scholarship from there as well.</p>

<p>My daughter had one friend from RISD summer that did got to SCAD, but then decided to change her major to English, so she transferred out. It had nothing to do with the school itself.</p>

231

<p>I don't know if you saw my post a while back but I did the SCAD precollege program this summer and I loved every minute of it. I had read a lot of stuff like this on the internet before I went down there and it really unnerved me too, but every staff member and student I met was nice, happy, and I saw no indication anywhere of all of the scary stuff you hear about. I guess there was a lot of bad stuff that happened in the early nineties, but that was a long time ago for a college that is only 30 years old and I really think things have improved tremendously since.

[quote]
1) is it true "everyone" gets it (could I get in based on the above?) and is the freshman foundation workload so heavy that students drop out because of it?

[/quote]

The acceptance rate numbers that I've seen are between 50% and 60% which is actually lower than a lot of art colleges, but it sounds like you would have an extremely good shot at getting in. The workload is tough, but even if you're not the best at drawing (it helps a lot if you are) the most important thing you need is a work ethic. As long as you work hard and don't procrastinate, I'm sure you'll be fine. (plenty of people this summer fell behind and ended up with some late nights and incomplete projects.) I was able to consistently get my work done at at a reasonable hour and still have plenty of time to have fun, so it's not impossible. Not to be too harsh, but I would guess that anyone who drops out because of the workload is either lazy or just not cut out for art college.<br>

[quote]
2) it seems like some students are unhappy because of they feel they are being "illegitimatized" by students who should not be in art school/bad professors/dumbed down classes. any insider insight?

[/quote]
I only took two classes this summer but the two teachers were beyond great and most of the students were extremely talented. But I'm sure that SCAD, along with just about any college, has its share of bad teachers and worthless students.

[quote]
3) I am pretty optimistic, I believe I can take a lot from an experience because I do try to make the best of it and I am halfway intelligent enough that I can figure things out for myself. So for people with bad experiences: will this even help me, or do you think it's so bad at this point that it won't matter?

[/quote]

I'm sure these qualities will be a big help.

[quote]
4) scholarships? financial aid? anything?

[/quote]

I'm in the process of applying for scholarships right now, but I've heard they're fairly generous. </p>

<p>Good luck, and don't let a few people on the internet keep from from forming your own opinions on SCAD.</p>

232

<p>Sunspun, you should have no trouble getting admitted to SCAD with those stats and perhaps will also get a scholarship. My daughter is discovering that they do work you really hard, but feels she is rising to the challenge, and loves it there so far (first quarter, freshman year). Likes her teachers, and is being pushed hard.</p>

233

<p>///Just read Lingua Franca - Sinister Designs. (several pages, keep clicking 'next' at the bottom). It is not fiction, although it reads like fiction. I know many of the people in this article and I have spoken with them on countless occasions.///</p>

<p>I was associated with SCAD as a student, staff member, and professor from roughly 1994 to 2007. I experienced or saw evidence of the elements you describe, but you cannot refer to an article written nearly 15 years ago as a window to SCAD 2008. What occurred then is irrelevant now. </p>

<p>Incidentally, my contract was not renewed at SCAD (technically I was fired) because of strained relations with my department Chair, and two Vice Presidents. I remain slightly bitter -- the feeling was akin to being punched in the stomach -- but it would be unfair for me not to acknowledge how very very good the college was to me for +/- 15 years. </p>

<p>Though I do understand the roots of your animosity, rehashing the bullspit that did occur 15+ years ago is inappropriate and not relevant in 2008.</p>

234

<p>I do not like SCAD at all. I went to multiple design camps there, and I don't like the campus area and the teachers don't even help you with anything or teach you anything...it's like cheap and I don't think it's worth it.</p>

235

<p>//I do not like SCAD at all. I went to multiple design camps there, and I don't like the campus area and the teachers don't even help you with anything or teach you anything...it's like cheap and I don't think it's worth it.//</p>

<p>I taught a number of Summer Sessions for H.S. students (if this is what you mean by design camps). The school was anything but "cheap, and practically rolled out the red carpet for the kids. It is after all, a marketing opportunity. Can you explain your comments further? </p>

<p>The campus is a matter of preference, and I don't know what your expectations were of your professors.</p>

236

<p>Not sure if anyone's still posting here but any opinions on SCAD vs. Academy of Art University? My decision is between the two and I'm finding it very difficult to decide.</p>

237

<p>What major are you looking at?</p>

238

<p>I'm not 100% sure, but something along the lines of digital communications & visual effects, though illustration and advertising/commercial art might be interesting. Whatever it is I sure don't want to spend all this money of school and end up a starving artist.</p>

<p>Actually I should also say at this point I would rather go AAU for the location (San Francisco...though it's MUCH farther from home) and it seems to have a better rep, but I would definitely enjoy SCAD as well and they have an equestrian program that is beyond my wildest dream gorgeous with fantastic horses. Riding has been a huge part of my life so it would be difficult to give it up stone cold, like if I went to AAU plus it's probably my only chance to be part of a professional barn like that.</p>

239

<p>//...but I would definitely enjoy SCAD as well and they have an equestrian program that is beyond my wildest dream gorgeous with fantastic horses. Riding has been a huge part of my life so it would be difficult to give it up stone cold, like if I went to AAU plus it's probably my only chance to be part of a professional barn like that.//</p>

<p>You can thank Paula Wallace, who started the equestrian team for her daughter while she attended the college. The stables burned down a number of years back, and they built a beautiful new facility. I'm not really sure how well the program serves more than a very small minority of students. It seemed a little over-the-top to me, but since I cannot point to any area where other students suffer...whatever...</p>

<p>SCAD-Savannah</a> > Ronald C. Waranch Equestrian Center</p>

240

<p>my brother goes to SCAD and has had many wonderful things to say about it
the administration i must admit is somewhat of a problem, but the teachers he claims to be excellent and he enjoys a lot his time there. I've personally been to Savannah and it's beautiful, it really has history, being one of the oldest, if not the oldest, town in the united states.
i know there are a lot of mixed feelings about scad, specially since its not NASAD accredited, but that doesn't make a single different, they are only words that in reality no one cares about when hiring you for jobs, they look at your portfolio and if it's good then good, and scad prepares you for that.</p>